The gunman who killed four people at a New York City office building Monday had an extensive prep high school career.
Authorities say 27-year-old Shane Tamura was targeting the headquarters of the National Football League at 345 Park Avenue in midtown Manhattan, but took the wrong elevator bank and ended up on the 33rd floor instead of floors 5-8, where the NFL offices are located. Tamura killed four people, including an off-duty New York City police officer.
Tamura’s athletic career was limited to high school football, and videos show him speaking after a September 2015 game his senior season, when he played for Granada Hills Charter School in Los Angeles.
“Right before the play, coach asked me if the 2-screen was open,” Tamura said. “I told him ‘yes. I got this coach.’ I caught the pass and weaved my way down and then broke free. I ran as hard as I could.”
“We kept our heads up,” said Tamura, who had 21 carries for 95 yards in the game. ‘The coaches told us to let it all go. We had to keep our heads and keep playing. There was a lot of emotions and anger about this game. We wanted to win this one real bad. We worked hard and practiced extra late for this game. This rivalry has been around longer than I have been alive. It’s a big one.”
According to MaxPreps, Tamura, listed at 5-foot-7, 140 pounds, had 126 carries, 600 rushing yards, and five touchdowns during his senior season at Granada Hills.
‘Granada Hills Charter (GHC) is aware of the tragic event in Manhattan involving a former student who attended the 2015 Fall Semester and has had no connection with the school since his withdrawal a decade ago,’ the school said in a statement. ‘Because student records are protected under FERPA, we cannot release additional personal or academic information.
‘We are horrified by the violence in New York. It is heartbreaking, and we extend our deepest sympathies to the victims, their families, and affected communities. Because this remains an active investigation, we are deferring to the NYPD and federal authorities for all further details.
‘Granada Hills Charter will cooperate with law enforcement as necessary. We will not be releasing any further statements or facilitating interview requests.’
Dan Kelley, a coach at Golden Valley High School, where Tamura played for three seasons before transferring to Granada Hills, told the Los Angeles Times that he remembered Tamura as “a good athlete.”
Investigators said Tamura had a history of mental illness and left a note that was found on his body suggesting a grievance with the NFL. In the note, he claimed to suffer from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a progressive neurodegenerative disease, usually linked to repeated blows to the head, and can only be diagnosed after death.
This story has been updated with new information.